Friday, April 17, 2009

If you are unsure of your salvation, please read this note. If it all seems familiar to you, that is a good thing. You decide where you stand when your done reading.

Most people when asked would say that they are a good person. "I've made some mistakes, but when all is said and done, I'm a pretty good person." That statement has come out of my mouth many times. It had until a few years ago, when I realized that I was not, in fact, a good person.

What do I mean by that?

Let's take a little test to find out how good of a person we actually are.

1. Have you ever told a lie?Timm's answer: yes, many timesMost people would immediately answer yes. If you said no, I commend you, but doubt you.

2. Have you ever taken the Lord's name in vein.Timm's answer: yes, many timesThis is called blasphemy. It is when we take the name of our creator. The one who gives us life and use it in the place of a filthy word. It is a very serious offense in the eyes of our Lord.

3. Have you ever murdered someone?Timm's answer: yes. many timesThat probably doesn't sound very Timm-like to most of you. The fact is that God can see our thought life. He knows every single thought that passes through our minds. It says in the Bible that if you look upon a man with hate, you have committed murder in your heart. I'm guilty of that.

4. Have you ever committed adultery?Timm's Answer: yes, many timesAgain, we know that God sees our thought life. Jesus said that if you look upon a woman to lust after her, you have already committed adultery with her in your heart. Ladies, vice versa.

I have just admitted to everyone reading this post that I am a lying, blaspheming, murderous adulterer. This is only four of the Ten commandments given by God. How do you suppose I would do on the other six? You guessed it, I would fail. The fact is, I am a sinner at heart. It's a curse handed down from generation to generation. From Adam and Eve, all the way down the line to you and me.The book of Romans says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. That means that you and I don't deserve to be in the presence of God. The book of Revelations says that all liars and adulterers have there place in the lake of fire (Hell.) I just admitted to you that I am both a liar and an adulterer. The fact is, If I died and stood before God today, I would deserve hell.

Someone right now is saying, "But Timm, God is a just and loving God. I've done enough Good to make up for these bad things in my life." To you I ask this question: If someone were to rape and murder your mother or sister, you would want to see justice served. What if that man stood before a just and loving judge and say, "Judge, I know I raped and killed that woman, but I've done so many other great things in my life. I know that you are a just and loving judge, so I think that you should let me off the hook." That judge would say "You're right. I am a just and loving judge. That is exactly why I must see to it that this crime is paid for."

In the same way, our crimes against God must be paid for. If we stand before God with the argument that he is a just and loving God, and that he should let us off the hook, surely we will perish. Just as the murderer in the story had to be punished.

Lets look at another story. A man was on his way to work. Little did he know that on this particular day, there was a blind children's convention in town. There were ten clear warning signs that the speed limit was to be 15 miles per hour when driving past the convention, punishable by a 25 thousand dollar fine. The man drove through at his normal speed of 55 miles per hour. He hadn't even realized that he had broken the law, but a police officer clocked him clearly going 40 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. When that man got to work, the officer followed him inside. He told the man the whole story about the convention, the speed limit and the 25 thousand dollar fine. The man couldn't believe his ears. He would never be able to come up with 25 thousand dollars. "Not to worry," said the officer. "Just before I came in here to tell you about it, a complete stranger stopped me and handed me this 25 thousand dollar check with your name on it. Would you like to use it to pay your fine?" The man could not believe it. A complete stranger had just saved him from the demise that he new he deserved.

The same is true for you. Someone has handed you the payment for your sins. The bible says that "the wages of sin is death." Jesus died on the cross as a sin free sacrifice. He owed no payment, but chose to pay for your sins with his blood. He has handed us that check. Now it is up to us to accept it.If the idea of being condemned to hell is worrisome to you, then I plead with you to get right with God...tonight. Go to a quite place and get on your face before God. Repent of your sins. Tell God that you hate the sin in your life and that you want it out. Believe that Jesus is the Lord and Savior. The guiltless sacrifice for your inequities. Turn your life over to him.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I pray that we all will take it to heart.